Airport Community Board backs local projects with a further £40k

Edinburgh Airport awards £600k in total since 2012

Edinburgh Airport Community Board has awarded its latest round of funding grants to support schools and organisations across Fife, Edinburgh and The Lothians.

It has allocated a further £40,000 to community-based projects – bringing the total to nearly £600,000 awarded to non-profits, charities and community organisations since its inception in 2012.

Carmondean Primary School in Livingston is just one of the beneficiaries and plans to use the funding boost to build better playground facilities using natural resources, such as logs, decking, wooden poles and netting, to create a more collaborative learning and play environment for the children.

Class Teacher Laura Smith said: “The benefits of this funding will be phenomenal; it will help us achieve better outcome for the pupils, creating a stronger sense of well-being and providing a space outdoors that our children are inspired by, are proud of and love to be in.”

Other successful applicants also include Queensferry Churches Care in the Community, an older person’s day care service in South Queensferry and Kirkliston which plans to use its award towards providing exercise and music activities to encourage active bodies and minds.

Carol Findlay, Fundraising and Public Relations Coordinator at Queensferry Care, said: “The power of music has an amazing ability to bring back memories and it encourages fun, laughter and conversations.”

Milesmark and Baldridge Community Council in Dunfermline received funding which will go towards improving communal social space and children’s play facilities in Bull Park.

Linda Ferris, Vice Chair of Milesmark and Baldridge Community Council, said: “This funding will encourage families to use the outdoor space, get to know each other and build community spirit. This will be a great boost to our neighbourhood.”

These are just some of the 20 recipients of The Edinburgh Airport Community Board’s latest funding round.

Gayle Barclay, Communications Project Manager at Edinburgh Airport and Secretary of Edinburgh Airport Community Board, said: “We take our role within the community very seriously so being able to give something back by helping these schools and vital local organisations via our Community Board is a great part of the Edinburgh Airport story.”

Alex Cole Hamilton MSP, the Chair of the Community Board, added: “The support offered by the airport to worthy causes is a source of great pride to airport staff and the community of West Edinburgh alike. The fund is making a transformational difference to groups delivering amazing work right across the region. I’m proud to be associated with it.”